Saints sign former Tulane punter Ryan Wright

Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports

By Ross Jackson

There’s a new punter in town as the New Orleans Saints finally invest in the position after years of trying to find diamonds through undrafted free agency.

The Saints changed course on their usual punter approach on Monday by signing former Minnesota Vikings and Tulane Green Wave punter Ryan Wright, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The deal is a four-year, $14 million agreement with $8 million guaranteed. Which effectively seals him as the Saints’ punter for three years. At only 25 years of age and with a booming leg, the Saints may have just successfully addressed one of their most important needs on special teams.

Wright averaged 49 yards per punt last year. No Saints punter has done that since former leg and New Orleans favorite Thomas Morstead. He averaged 50.1 yards per punt (a career high) in 2012.

Since Morstead’s departure following the 2020 season, the Saints have had a carousel at the position. Over the five years since the split, New Orleans has had four starting punters and endless training camp competition at the position.

Looking at the numbers, Wright is in a completely different class of punter than that which the Saints have been dealing with over recent years.

Per @TruMediaSports, since 2000, the #Saints‘ haven’t had a punter average more than 44 net yards per punt. Wright averaged 44.5 in 2025.

Best mark for New Orleans was, of course, Thomas Morstead. 43.2 in 2012 and again in 2018. https://t.co/IBcY7T3OEq

— Ross Jackson (@RossJacksonNOLA) March 9, 2026

He’ll now team up with Saints special team coordinator Phil Galiano with punter Kai Kroeger still currently in the building. Wright’s leg and power are likely to keep Kroeger at bay if the Saints keep him around through training camp. Every team typically likes to have multiple punters and kickers during an offseason even when there is no competition.

#Vikings rookie punter Ryan Wright just unleashed a 73-yard punt from his own endzone. An absolute bomb.

(🎥 @WillRagatz)pic.twitter.com/73968RMp5H

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 16, 2022

The Saints could continue to help themselves on special teams as a mid-season kicker change is likely to bring competition this offseason, and the trading away of wide receiver Rashid Shaheed should put the Saints in the market for a returner as well.